Wheeler Sack Army Air Field

KGTB

Fort Drum, US

Last Updated
Apr 18, 19:55Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a U.S. military installation. Civil aircraft operations are generally prohibited without prior authorization.

Access Notes:

Most military airfields closed to civil traffic; some joint-use exceptions exist

Consult official AIP (FAA AIP GEN 3.3) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 36 min ago
19:55Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 9°C
25 kt
170° G32 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1004 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KGTB 181955Z AUTO 17025G32KT 10SM FEW140 FEW180 25/09 A2965 RMK AO2 PK WND 18032/40 SLP038 T02540092 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 688 ft
FEW 14,000 ft AGL
FEW 18,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
14,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
14,688 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
18,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
18,688 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 14,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (170°) at 25 knots with gusts to 32 knots. Runway 15/33 is favored with a 23-knot headwind and 9-knot crosswind component (gusting to 11 knots crosswind). These are strong winds that may exceed crosswind limits for light aircraft.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 14,000 ft, few at 18,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 9°C, indicating very dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 6 to 20 knots.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. Gusty conditions may exceed demonstrated crosswind components for many general aviation aircraft. Check your aircraft's limitations. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1004 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
981 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (688 ft)
Pressure Alt
966 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,331 ft
ISA Deviation: +11.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KGTB 171700Z 1717/1823 05010KT 9999 BKN015 QN2996INS BECMG 1718/1719 14008KT 9999 FEW040 QNH2994INS BECMG 1800/1801 VRB06KT 9999 FEW200 QNH2991INS BECMG 1807/1808 15010G20KT 9999 SKC QNH2982INS BECMG 1813/1814 17020G30KT 9999 BKN080 QNH2967INS BECMG 1820/1821 18015G25KT 8000 -SHRA OVC045 QNH2964INS TX17/1720Z TN09/1708Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:31Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 50° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,500 ft

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
GTB
03
21 ✈️
08
26
15
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 03/21
Active: 21
10,000 ft 150 ft CON 16°
19.2 kt 16.1 kt
40° angle
08/26 4,482 ft 150 ft CON 70°
4.3 kt 24.6 kt
100° angle
15/33 4,999 ft 150 ft CON 133°
20.0 kt 15.0 kt
37° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KGTB

9,456 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
47.3%
MVFR
32.8%
IFR
13.3%
LIFR
6.7%

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 47.3% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 20% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 8.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -30°C to 28°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 8.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 7.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.9%
NE
6.7%
E
3.1%
SE
16.5%
S
10%
SW
13.6%
W
26.9%
NW
7.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 0.2°C
Range: -30°C to 28°C
-30°C 28°C

Visibility

Average: 8.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 4%
Fog Frequency: 1.9%

Best Months for VFR

October September March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.2 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt

Statistics computed from 9,456 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KGTB
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 688 ft MSL

Location

City: Fort Drum
Country: US
Latitude: 44.055599°
Longitude: -75.719498°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 08/26
Length: 4,482 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 4,999 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Wheeler Sack Army Air Field

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the US AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field is a medium-sized military airport located at Fort Drum in northern New York State. Situated at 688 feet above mean sea level with coordinates 44.055599, -75.719498, the airfield serves military aviation operations and supports the 10th Mountain Division. Its three concrete runways provide substantial operational flexibility for military aircraft.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Wheeler Sack demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions present 49.2% of the time and marginal VFR conditions occurring 32.8% of observations. Temperature ranges from -21°C to 28°C, with an average of 1.5°C, indicating potential challenges in winter and summer operations. Prevailing winds from the west (270°) average 8.9 knots, with occasional gusts up to 34 knots.

Notable Features

The airport features three runways: 03/21 at 10,000 feet, 08/26 at 4,482 feet, and 15/33 at 4,999 feet, all constructed of concrete. Each runway demonstrates 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components ranging from 5.1 to 5.9 knots. The longest runway (03/21) provides substantial length for diverse military aircraft operations.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate generally good visibility, with an average of 8.8 statute miles and only 4% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles. September through November offer the most consistent VFR conditions. With calm wind conditions occurring 8.3% of the time, pilots should be prepared for potential wind variability during approach and landing.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.